IBM Patterns Design Education Program:
Design Coaching and Mentoring
Design Coaches in Austin, Texas celebrating the end of the program in West Austin.
Role
Design Coach and Mentor
Responsibilities
I coached a team of five new hires during an 8-week design education program focused on IBM Enterprise Design Thinking in Austin, Texas. Through various workshops, weekly one-on-one sessions, and providing feedback regularly alongside senior leadership, I guided and prepared the team throughout the program up until their final presentation at the IBM Austin Design Studio, showcasing their incubator projects and design thinking exercises they worked on throughout the program. I also participated in leadership training as a design coach.
Team
Design Coach (myself), 2 UX Designers, 1 Visual Designer, 1 UX Researcher, 1 Assistant Product Manager
Highlights and Accomplishments
My team’s design work and exceptional contributions enhanced a real, IBM-sponsored incubator product and earned a highly regarded patent.
Results
Nurtured early professional talent and continuously improved team diversity through EFFECTIVE mentorship and coachinG, expanded IBM Enterprise Design Thinking practices, and grew leadership skills
Through my coaching role in the Patterns cohort, our team achieved remarkable results, including enhancing an IBM-sponsored incubator product with an AI-infused prototype and securing an IBM patent for our design work. We successfully transformed the cohort's working approach, equipping them with the expertise needed to excel in their new roles. I shared my coaching experience globally, fostering collaboration and participation within IBM Design. This led to further opportunities, such as returning as a mentor and participating in the prestigious "Patterns Next Level" program for senior-level designers. The Cohort Coach experience enhanced my communication skills, instilled confidence in my leadership abilities, and emphasized the significance of building strong business relationships. Guiding the team to their impressive final deliverable remains a source of great pride.
Clockwise from top left: Patternites’ final design for Watson Health software; Patternites presenting their final playback at the Austin Design Studio; Austin Design Studio departure sign; Patternites with their incubator leads and their design coach (me).
All the Patternites, Design Coaches, and Program Leads on the first day of the program.
Challenge
provide effective mentorship and ENTERPRISE design thinking coaching TO NEWLY HIRED IBMERS
The challenge was to provide effective mentorship and design thinking coaching to a team consisting of 4 designers and 1 assistant product manager during the Winter 2020 Patterns Session, an 8-week IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Education Program in Austin, TX. As a coach, the objective was to equip these early career professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to confidently apply design thinking principles in their future roles and to ensure that the team members not only gained a thorough understanding of the tools but also developed the skills and mindset required to independently utilize them in their respective positions. Additionally, coaches attended and participated in sessions on topics such as leadership, emotional intelligence, mentorship, and more.
Process
Lead, but don’t do…
As one of the thirteen Design Cohort Coaches (CoCos) selected globally, I had the opportunity to mentor and guide a cohort of designers and assistant product managers at IBM for eight weeks. Each cohort was assigned a specific incubator project, and my cohort focused on addressing the challenge of improving imaging and radiology in the Watson Health space. The project goal was to help radiologists prioritize patient studies and access relevant images and information tailored to their needs.
All of the design coaches and one of the program leads.
In my role as a coach, I provided guidance, resources, and support to empower the team to become advanced and self-sufficient design thinkers. While I didn't directly engage in the design work, I led the team through the design process, facilitating brainstorming sessions, guiding decision-making, and ensuring effective collaboration. The team worked collaboratively, conducting research, user testing, and using IBM's Carbon Design System to develop personas, hills, and an MVP concept. I facilitated daily stand-ups, weekly retrospectives, and led design thinking activities and workshops, emphasizing storytelling and wire framing. Additionally, I played a vital role in guiding the team through weekly feedback sessions with senior leadership, ensuring continuous progress towards our final presentation at the prestigious IBM Austin Design Studio.
As coaches, we also underwent our own leadership learning program, which equipped us with the necessary skills to lead and mentor others effectively. Before the program, we engaged in pre-work activities focused on building trust, addressing unconscious bias, coaching junior employees, and giving and receiving feedback. The CoCos arrived in Austin a week before the patternites to participate in onboarding activities, including sessions on Accessibility, Psychological Safety, and Leadership Style. These initial days allowed us to bond as a group and familiarize ourselves with the studio and program expectations.
Throughout the program, we continued our learning journey with a pair of CoCos leading weekly leadership sessions for the rest of the cohort. These sessions encompassed lectures, panels, games, or activities that covered essential topics such as Effective Communication, Career Growth and Eminence, Business Acumen, Team Dynamics, Effective Communication, Relationship Management, and the essence of being a design leader. Additionally, we had the privilege of engaging in roundtable discussions with prominent design leaders in Austin, including former GM of Design, Phil Gilbert, allowing us to gain insights and ask questions in an open and supportive environment.
